Dr. Huckleberry as a young man, posing with his doctor's bag and Hudson automobile-ambulance.

One of the most colorful and rewarding occupations in human history was that of a country doctor in the first half of the 20th century.

By about 1900, breakthroughs in medical science had put some really powerful healing tools in their hands, and the profession had never been as personally or socially rewarding.

Country doctors, once they had settled into a practice, could count on a prominent place in society, the respect and admiration of nearly everyone and the secure knowledge that they were doing real well in the world.